JP4163717B2 - Paging response system, paging device and response device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio communication system using radio waves, and more particularly to a call response system for transmitting a call signal by radio from a call device to a response device.

  In recent years, a call answering system using wireless communication has become widespread in restaurants and other restaurants. As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional call answering system 100 is a portable answering machine including a call device 101 arranged in each table and a wireless receiver attached to each waiter, waiter, or other waiter. Device 102.

When an orderer or the like presses a call switch of the calling device 101 by a restaurant who is present at the table, a calling signal is transmitted by radio waves from the wireless transmission antenna and received by the receiving antenna of the response device 102. Since the responder 102 is notified by the responding device 102 from which table it was called, the waiter can move to the table and serve.
Wireless call, product information, Matsushita Electric Works, 2005, [online] [searched on January 13, 2006], Internet <URL: http: //biz.national.jp/Ebox/wireless/d_wirelesscall/index.html >

  However, the conventional calling apparatus generally has a configuration in which transmission of a calling signal is started when the button is pressed briefly, and transmission is canceled when the button is continuously pressed for a certain period of time. For this reason, if the button is accidentally pressed by another person before the waiter arrives, the call is released, causing a malfunction.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent a malfunction of a call signal canceling operation in a call response system using wireless communication from a calling device to a response device.

  A call response system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a call response system for transmitting a call signal by radio from a call device to a response device, wherein the response device stores release information for canceling transmission of the call signal. Storage means, wireless receiving means for receiving the call signal from the calling device, and control for reading the release information from the storage means and notifying the outside when the wireless receiving means receives the call signal And an electric field transmitting means for inducing an electric field based on the release information in the electric field transmission medium, wherein the calling device detects the electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium and receives the release information. And cancellation means for canceling transmission of the calling signal when the electric field receiving means receives the cancellation information.

  In the present invention, an electric field based on the release information for canceling the transmission of the calling signal by the electric field transmitting means of the response device is induced in the electric field transmission medium, and the electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium by the electric field receiving means of the calling device. When a person having the answering device touches the calling device after the calling signal is notified from the calling device to the outside through the answering device by wireless communication, the human body that is an electric field transmission medium is used. When a transmission path from the answering device to the calling device is established and the calling device receives the release information from the answering device by human body communication, it is possible to cancel the transmission of the calling signal.

  A call device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a call device for transmitting a call signal by radio to a response device, the electric field receiving means for detecting an electric field induced in an electric field transmission medium and receiving release information, Release means for canceling transmission of the paging signal when the electric field receiving means receives the release information.

  In the present invention, since the electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium is detected by the electric field receiving means, the paging signal transmitted by wireless communication is notified to the outside through the response device, and then the response device is provided. When a person touches the electrolytic receiving means, a transmission path from the response device to the electrolytic receiving means is established through the human body as the electric field transmission medium, and the electric field receiving means receives the release information from the response device by human body communication Then, the transmission of the calling signal can be canceled by the canceling means.

  A response device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a response device that receives a wireless paging signal transmitted from a paging device, and stores release information that cancels transmission of the paging signal from the paging device. Storage means; wireless reception means for receiving the call signal from the calling device; and control means for notifying the outside when the wireless reception means receives the call signal and reading the release information from the storage means; And an electric field transmitting means for inducing an electric field based on the release information in the electric field transmission medium.

  In the present invention, the electric field transmission means of the response device induces an electric field in the electric field transmission medium based on the release information for canceling the transmission of the calling signal, so that the calling signal transmitted from the calling device by wireless communication Is received by the wireless receiving means and notified to the outside by the control means, and then when a person who contacts the wireless receiving means touches the calling device, a transmission path to the calling device is established via the human body which is an electric field transmission medium. The release information can be transmitted from the electric field transmitting means to the calling device by human body communication.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, malfunctioning of cancellation | release operation of a call signal can be prevented in the call response system using radio | wireless communication from a calling device to a response device.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a call answering system using wireless communication according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure, the call answering system 1 includes, for example, a call device 2 arranged on each table or wall of a restaurant, and a transmission electrode 5b for human body communication on a waiter or waitress arm serving on the floor. It is comprised with the portable response apparatus 3 with which it was mounted | worn. Here, the calling device 2 includes a call switch 4 that starts wireless transmission and a reception electrode 5a for human body communication that functions as a release switch that cancels wireless transmission.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the call device 2 in the call response system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the calling device 2 includes a call switch 4, a wireless transmission unit 6 having a wireless transmission antenna, a storage unit 7, an electric field transceiver 8a having a receiving electrode 5a for human body communication, and wireless transmission cancellation. Part 9.

  The call switch 4 is connected to the radio transmission unit 6 and starts radio transmission. For example, a push button type switch is used.

  The radio transmission unit 6 transmits a paging signal by radio to the response device 3 via the radio transmission antenna in conjunction with the switching operation of the paging switch 4. Here, the calling signal includes, for example, identification information of a table in which the calling device 2 is arranged.

  The storage unit 7 stores an expected value of release information to be received in advance, for example. The release information is, for example, unique information of a person who has the authority to release the call signal, and here, an employee ID is stored as identification information of each waiter or waitress serving on the floor.

  The electric field transceiver 8a functions as an electric field receiving unit that detects the electric field induced in an electric field transmission medium such as a human body via the receiving electrode 5a for human body communication as a release switch and receives release information. Here, the surface of the receiving electrode 5a is covered with, for example, an insulating dielectric film.

  The radio transmission canceling unit 9 cancels the transmission of the calling signal when the electric field transceiver 8a receives the cancellation information. Here, when the electric field transceiver 8a detects an electric field via the receiving electrode 5a and receives a signal, the employee ID list of the waiter is read from the storage unit 7 as the expected value of the release information, and the received signal is the release information. As a result, it is determined whether it matches any of the employee IDs in the list. If they match, a reset signal is output to the reset input of the wireless transmission unit 6 to cancel the transmission of the calling signal.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the response device 3 in the call response system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the response device 3 includes a storage unit 10, a wireless reception unit 11, a control unit 12, a small speaker 13, and an electric field transceiver 8b having a transmission electrode 5b for human body communication.

  The storage unit 10 stores release information for canceling the transmission of the calling signal. Here, the release information is unique information of a person who has the authority to release the call signal, and stores, for example, an employee ID as identification information of a waiter or waitress who carries the response device.

  The wireless reception unit 11 receives a call signal from the call device 2. Here, for example, a paging signal including identification information of a table in which the paging device 2 is arranged is received by the radio reception antenna.

  When the wireless reception unit 11 receives the calling signal, the control unit 12 notifies the outside and reads the release information from the storage unit 10 and sends it to the electric field transceiver 8b. For example, first, when the wireless reception unit 11 receives a call signal, it is determined which table contains the identification information of the call signal. It is notified by voice whether it was called from the table. Next, the in-house ID of the waiter carrying the response device 3 is read from the storage unit 10 as release information, and transmission of the release information to the electric field transceiver 8b is started.

  The electric field transceiver 8b functions as an electric field transmission unit that induces an electric field based on the release information in the electric field transmission medium via the transmission electrode 5b for human body communication. Again, the surface of the transmission electrode 5b is covered with, for example, an insulating dielectric film.

  Next, a specific configuration inside the electric field transceivers 8a and 8b included in the call device 2 and the response device 3 in the call response system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The electric field transceiver 8 shown in the figure induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in an electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information.

  The electric field transceiver 8a as the electric field receiving means provided in the calling device 2 detects the electric field induced and transmitted by the human body at the time of reception by the receiving electrode 5a for human body communication covered with the dielectric film 14, This electric field is coupled to the electric field detection optical unit 801 and converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is subjected to signal processing such as amplification and noise removal by the signal processing circuit 802, further waveform-shaped by the waveform shaping circuit 803, and then wirelessly transmitted via the input / output (I / O) circuit 804. The information is output to a computer such as the release unit 9.

  The electric field transceiver 8b as electric field transmission means provided in the response device 3 receives transmission data from a computer such as the control unit 12 via the input / output (I / O) circuit 804 at the time of transmission. Is supplied to the transmission electrode 5b for human body communication via the transmission unit 805, and an electric field is induced in the human body via the transmission electrode 5b and the dielectric film 14, and this electric field is transmitted.

  Next, call response processing by the call response system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

As for the calling operation of the calling device 2, as shown in FIG. 1, when an occupant at a table presses the calling switch 4 of the calling device 2 at the time of ordering or the like, it is transmitted by radio waves from the wireless transmission antenna. The call signal is received by the receiving antenna, and the table from which the call is called is notified to the waiter carrying the response device 3 by voice. The called waiter moves to the table and waits.

  Next, regarding the release operation of the calling device 2, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, after the waiter has served at the table, the waiter wearing the response device 3 via the transmission electrode 5 b for human body communication When the receiving electrode 5a for human body communication as a release switch is touched, a transmission path from the answering device 3 to the calling device 2 is established via the human body which is an electric field transmission medium, and the calling from the answering device 3 is performed by human body communication. Data including release information is transmitted to the device 2. Thereby, when the calling device 2 receives the cancellation information from the response device 3, the wireless transmission of the calling signal can be canceled.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the electric field based on the release information for canceling the calling signal by the electric field transceiver 8b of the response device 3 is induced in the human body, and the electric field induced in the human body is detected by the electric field transceiver 8a of the calling device 2 Thus, after a call signal is notified from the call device 2 to the outside through the response device 3 by wireless communication, a person wearing the response device 3 touches the reception electrode 5a as a release switch via the transmission electrode 5b. Since the transmission path from the response device 3 to the call device 2 is established, the call device 2 can cancel the transmission of the call signal when the call device 2 receives the release information from the response device 3 by human body communication.

  Therefore, in the call response system using wireless communication from the call device to the response device, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the call signal release operation.

  In the present embodiment, the call switch 4 of the call device and the reception electrode 5a for human body communication as the release switch are separately provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, a receiving electrode 5a covered with a dielectric film may be provided on the button of the push button type call switch 4, and the call switch 4 and the release switch may be used as one switch. In such a configuration, the calling device can be reduced in size, and when the calling device is arranged on the table, the space on the table can be used more efficiently.

  In the present embodiment, the calling device is arranged independently, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, each calling device may be connected to a network such as an in-house LAN via a network connection device 15. In such a form, it is possible to collect the employee IDs of the waiters and waitresses that have been called by the calling device and have released the calling signal. It can be used and managed as customer service information.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the response apparatus was set as the structure provided with a radio | wireless receiving part, it is not restricted to this. For example, a response device including an electric field transceiver and a storage unit that stores release information may be carried by a waiter, and a notification device including a wireless reception unit and a speaker may be arranged in another location. The notification device that has received the radio wave notifies the table on which the caller on the floor has been called from, together with a sound signal such as a chime or bell sound, and broadcasts in the restaurant, etc. Move to the table and release the call. In such a form, since it is not necessary to mount a wireless reception unit, a speaker, etc. in a response apparatus, a response apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.

  In the present embodiment, both the paging device and the response device are configured to include an electric field transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving an electric field. For example, the paging device includes only the reception function of the electric field transceiver, It may be configured to have only a transmission function.

1 is an external view showing a configuration of a call response system using wireless communication according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the calling apparatus in the call response system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the response apparatus in the call response system of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the transceiver with which the calling apparatus and response apparatus in a paging response system are provided. It is the schematic which shows cancellation | release operation of the calling apparatus by a call response system. 1 is an external view of a call answering system provided with a first application example of a call device. FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure in the 1st application example of a calling device. It is an external view of the call answering system provided with the 2nd application example of the calling device. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the call response system using the conventional radio | wireless communication.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Call response system 2 ... Call device 3 ... Response device 4 ... Call switch 5a ... Reception electrode 5b for human body communication ... Transmission electrode 6 for human body communication ... Wireless transmission unit 7 ... Memory | storage part 8a, 8b ... For human body communication Electric field transceiver 9 ... Radio transmission canceling unit 10 ... Storage unit 11 ... Radio receiving unit 12 ... Control unit 13 ... Small speaker 14 ... Dielectric film 15 ... Network connection device 100 ... Conventional calling radio response system 101 ... Conventional radio calling device DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Conventional wireless response apparatus 801 ... Electric field detection optical part 802 ... Signal processing circuit 803 ... Waveform shaping circuit 804 ... Input / output (I / O) circuit 805 ... Transmission part

Claims (3)

A call answering system for transmitting a paging signal by radio from a calling device to a response device,
The responding device stores storage information for canceling transmission of the call signal;
Wireless receiving means for receiving the calling signal from the calling device;
Control means for notifying the outside when the wireless reception means receives the calling signal and reading the release information from the storage means;
Electric field transmission means for inducing an electric field based on the release information in an electric field transmission medium,
The paging device detects an electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium and receives the release information;
A call answering system comprising: release means for releasing transmission of the call signal when the electric field receiving means receives the release information. A calling device that transmits a wireless calling signal to a response device,
An electric field receiving means for detecting an electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium and receiving release information;
Calling apparatus comprising: release means for releasing transmission of the call signal when the electric field receiving means receives the release information. A response device for receiving a wireless paging signal transmitted from a paging device,
Storage means for storing release information for canceling transmission of the calling signal from the calling device;
Wireless receiving means for receiving the calling signal from the calling device;
Control means for notifying the outside when the wireless reception means receives the calling signal and reading the release information from the storage means;
And an electric field transmission means for inducing an electric field based on the release information in the electric field transmission medium.

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